
Class 

Book 

GpightN?- 



COFVBIGKT DEPOSIE 



FANTASIES 



FANTASIES 



BY 

LAURA G. CHILDS 



PRIVATELY PRINTED 

NEW YORK 
1916 






COPYRIGHT, 1916 
BY LAURA G. CHILDS 



J 



SEP 12 1916 
©CI.A437623 



CONTENTS 



Memories 

Doom 

Cause and Effect 

A Prayer . 

A Thought 

A Song 

Loneliness 

Fantasie 

The Girl of To-day . 

Rodin's "Hand of God 

Twilight 

Jack Frost . 

Ravello . 

Mirage 

A Wish . 

Eternal Love 

Fata Morgana 

Our Doom . 

Despair . 



2 
3 
4 
5 
6 

7 

8 

10 

1 1 

12 

13 
J4 
15 
16 
18 
19 

21 

23 



FANTASIES 



Futility 

On a Birthday 

A Dream Ship 

Faith . 

The East . 

Valentine 

Sehnsucht . 

The Lily and the Gnat 

The Pine Tree 

The Fog 

A Soul's Cry 

Waltz Song 

Lily-of-the- Valley . 

To Let . 

Advice 

New Year's Greeting 

Drifting 

? . 

Red Letter Days . 

Golden Days . 

Blue Days . 

Spring Song , 

A Toi 

Friendship 

Mystery 



PAGE 
2 4 

25 
26 
28 
29 
31 
32 

33 

34 
35 
36 
37 
38 
40 
42 
43 
44 
45 
46 

47 
48 

49 
50 
5i 
53 



vm 



FANTASIES 

PAGE 

Song 55 

The Seventh Wave . . . . 56 

Life . . . . . .57 

A Caravan . . . . . . . 58 

My Ghost Baby . . . . .59 

Madrigal . . . . . . 61 

From An Old Garden . . . .62 



FANTASIES 



MEMORIES 

"*"pIS the flower that grows too high, 

And the song one cannot sing, 
Tis the thought back of good-bye 

And the tears unshed that bring 
To one's sense the perfume rarest, 

To the memory sweetest sound, 
To the soul the promise fairest 

To the mind a grief profound. 

For a rose untouched lives longest, 
Oft a song unsung lies deep, 

Words unsaid are sometimes strongest, 
Saddest tears are those we keep. 



FANTASIES 



DOOM 

A A THY strive to live, unto what dreamless end? 

" " No heart beats quicker for thy touch of hand. 
Thou hast remembrance, perhaps one friend, 
But comrade love comes not at thy command. 

When daylight wanes and night's black shadows fall, 
None wait expectant in some home for thee; 

No welcome voice responds unto thy call; 
Sentient, doth silence wait eternally. 



FANTASIES 



CAUSE AND EFFECT 

A TREMOR, a thrill of emotion, 
"^^ Strange languor, and feeling of bliss; 
Yet wild as a storm in mid-ocean — 
All caused by one sweet stolen kiss. 

A sneeze and a cough with a feeling 
Of pain, ache and fever — what's this? 

This misery over one stealing? 
Alas, 'tis a germ called a kiss. 



FANTASIES 



A PRAYER 

AT midnight, when the world asleep, 

*^ I dream and wake and vigil keep; 

Tis then toward Heaven a prayer I send 

To God on high for you, dear friend. 

God bless you through the night and day, 
And guard you safe where'er you go; 

This is my prayer, 'tis all I say. 
And why? Because I love you so. 



FANTASIES 



A THOUGHT 

T OVE, like a petal from a rose 
■ L/ Pressed close in the leaves of a book, 
Should be tenderly handled, else who knows 
It will vanish or break as we look. 

Love is as lasting as life, 'tis said, 

Wondrous and warm and true, 
Sweet and glowing as roses red; 

Alas! that it comes to so few. 



FANTASIES 



A SONG 

QOME business, some pleasure 
^ Combine in a measure 

To make up existence called living; 
All work and no play, 
We oft hear one say, 

Scarce pays to take for the giving. 

So laugh while you may, 
Let the cloud of to-day 

Cast no gloom on thoughts of to-morrow; 
For to-morrow, my dear, 
We might not be here — 

Tis needless of trouble to borrow. 



FANTASIES 



LONELINESS 

T MISS thee so! 

* When wanes the light of day, 

And night envelopes all in silent rest, 

I dream and wonder, as wild thoughts stray 
Afar, seeking the one I love the best. 

I miss thee so! 
All through the stilly night, 

When nature sleeps and all is peace, 
'Til stars grow pale, at dawn's pink light, 

My loneliness endures; 'twill never cease, 
I miss thee so! 
I miss thee so! 
Amid the city's din, 

When each one plays his special part, 
There comes a silence, deep within, 

And stays forever with my lonely heart. 
I miss thee so ! 



FANTASIES 



FANTASY 



* I ""O feel the nearness of an understanding companion- 
1 ship, realize the touch of a hand whose tender- 
ness and strength unite with protecting love — this were 
happiness ! 

To flee from the eternal hustle, noise, confusion and 
strife of that mercenary mart, called city life, which, 
like some mighty juggernaut grinds relentlessly all 
that is noble, great, beautiful and true beneath its 
crushing wheels, and in the dust which follows one 
sees that spectre Pleasure, decked with false jewels, 
wreathed in flowers made from the very blood of life, 
clad in elusive charms, inviting all to join the mad 
chase which can end only in disaster, disillusion and 
death! 

Happiness indeed, could one in truth flee from this 
land of Ego, far over seas into God's country — to some 
fair oasis whose natural bloom has not been marred 
by hand of man. There let us go and breathe the pure 
air fresh from the wind-swept desert, touching one like 
a fleeting kiss, leaving the joy of remembrance for 
future years. 

8 



FANTASIES 

Soft sway the feathery palms, subtle the fragrance 
of flowers, while overhead the orient moon hangs like 
some sparkling gem pendant upon the bosom of night, 
and one by one the stars watchfully gleam and glow 
in the blue heaven which seems so near. 

Thither let us go, drink deep of the waters of forget- 
fulness, banish all memory of sorrow, and hand-in-hand 
together 

Welcome Happiness. 



FANTASIES 



THE GIRL OF TO-DAY 

C RILLS, feathers and fur— all fluff, 
* Chiffon and ruffles and lace; 
Hair swirled into mist and puff 
So you look twice for her face. 



Wonderful charm, some dash, 
Piquant, provoking and bright; 

Short gown, minaret, some slash — 
Dancing the tango all night. 

Painted and powdered, yet sweet, 
Stealing your heart by the way, 

Drinking a cocktail quite neat — 
This is the girl of to-day. 

Yet under this chiffon and lace 
Beats a heart as fresh as a rose; 

And if she seems "going the pace" 
Just trust her — 'tis only a pose. 



FANTASIES 



RODIN'S "HAND OF GOD" 

\ A7ITHIN a massive hand of sculptured marble 
* * pure, wrought with a master's subtlest skill, 
lie figures twain, emblem of Love perfected, since each 
upon the other leans, yet knows it not. 

Were it not kinder far if that Almighty Hand closed 
upon this emblematic chrysalis of humanity, thus sav- 
ing both from fate inevitable — whose call must separate 
heart from heart, never again to throb (on earth) in 
unison? 



FANTASIES 



TWILIGHT 

OAINBOW clouds in crimson sky, 

Whispers the sweet night wind; 
Swallows swiftly swirling fly 

Each to its nest soft-lined. 
Twilight dreams in night's embrace, 

Saying to Day "Good-night"; 
Silent moon reveals her face 

Half-veiled in silver light. 
One by one stars shining glow 

Like watchful, waiting eyes; 
Moon-lit waters seem to show 

A path to Paradise. 



FANTASIES 



JACK FROST 

JACK FROST is a rollicking lover bold 
As he roams the forest free; 
His touch is fatal, his kiss is cold 

To leaves blushing red on the tree. 
Each glorious, glowing leaf so fair 

A trace of his favor shows, 
Then droops and dies in the frosty air, 
To be buried by pitying snows. 






FANTASIES 



RAVELLO 



OAVELLO, loveliest spot I know, 

Mountain heights devoid of snow. 
Sweetest flowers, in gardens old, 
Views sublime to us unfold. 
Vistas far o'er vale and hill 
Hold one breathless, awed, and still. 
Peaceful quietude for all 
Who chance upon thy charm to fall. 
There the sunset's after-glow 
Gorgeous, glowing colors show: 
Opalescence set in gold, 
Sapphire blue with depth untold. 
There night's mantle, soft caressing, 
Envelopes all as with a blessing. 
Distant stars their vigil keeping, 
Watchful o'er Ravello sleeping. 
If some heart weighed down by sorrow, 
Vainly seeking peace to borrow 
For its thoughts a silence calm, 
For the mind a soothing balm. 
This the place in which to find 
Perfect rest for soul and mind. 



14 



FANTASIES 



MIRAGE 

'T'^HERE'S a wonderful isle far over the sea, 

Through its palms soft breezes are blowing; 
Faint fragrance of flowers is wafted to me 

And the splendor of sunset is glowing. 
Opaline waves in glinting gleams, 

On the shore of this isle, ebb and flow; 
There nightingales sing a song of dreams 

In the light of a pink afterglow. 
Then over my island the moon rises pale, 

With a radiant, luminous light — 
Encompassing all in a mystical veil 

Through the silvery clouds of night. 
But the magical charm lies not in flowers, 

Not in song, nor in moonlight fair — 
Tis deep in the heart of golden hours 

That I (in my dreams) live there. 



«5 



FANTASIES 



A WISH 

V TO thought of grief or ill 
1 * My soul with care can fill 

When thou art near. 
Peace like a charmed sprite 
Rests with me day and night 

While with thee, dear. 
If to some distant land, 
Destined by Fate's strange hand, 

Thou hadst to go, 
Gladly, with heart at rest, 
I'll follow any quest 

My love to show. 

Then, when life's work is o'er, 
One to that unknown shore 

Is called away, 
Mine let it be the choice 
To answer first Death's voice — 

Thine be to stay. 

16 



FANTASIES 

Pray that when thou must die, 
My spirit hovering nigh 

With thine may roam 
Into some world more fair, 
Which we together share — 

Eternal Home! 






FANTASIES 



ETERNAL LOVE 

A /AGUE thoughts too deep for mind or pen, 
" Impressioned lie! beyond my ken, 
Vainly attests each line I write 
A futile effort to indite. 
One thought asseverates again; 
Tis Love's eternal, to banish pain 
In weary heart. Remembrance yet 
May serve to still that sad regret 
And bury grief nor longer mourn. 
Oft darkest night brings fairest dawn; 
Love's made eternal when is found 
Faith, trust and love together bound. 



18 



FANTASIES 



FATA MORGANA 

T TRAVELLED East, I journeyed West, 

With eager step sped on my way, 
The search for happiness, my quest, 
Love for an hour, year or day. 

A spirit flushed with youth and power 
Held out the cup of life to me: 

" Drink deep, here's joy for one brief hour- 
A taste of Heaven I offer thee." 

I drained the cup — 'twas bitter sweet, 
And left me as one dazed and blind, 

That was not love, but fair deceit 
In masquerade, incarnadined. 

Next met I one in radiant guise, 
Truth, with a cup of crystal clear: 

"Who quaffs this draught in glad surprise 
Shall happy be for one whole year." 

19 



FANTASIES 

Again I drank, with vision cleared, 
Astonished found that Love was here 

Within my heart, and time appeared, 
Alas, too short, my wondrous year! 

Some travel East, some travel West, 
To seek for happiness once more — 

Then learn too late, while on the quest 
Love died while waiting at their door! 



20 



FANTASIES 



OUR ROOM 

A DREAM room just for you and me — 
"*^ Apart from all the world it lies, 
Tis there your inmost heart I see 
And read the love-light in your eyes. 

Oh little room, so filled with dreams, 
Your many charms to me appeal; 

Upon your wall soft firelight gleams 
And pictures fair and dear reveal. 

There chairs invite with cushioned ease, 
Our favorite books lie close at hand, 

While only thoughts which soothe and please 
Can enter this, our fairyland. 

'Tis there in dreams that you and I 

From heart to heart sweet converse make; 

Alas, too swift the hours fly — 

Brief dream is ours, for we must wake. 



FANTASIES 

Yet for a moment let us stay, 
My hand in thine, my heart at rest; 

One little hour to dream away, 
Then wake! to find "what is, is best. 



22 



FANTASIES 



DESPAIR 

OELENTLESS Fate— lift not thy veil, 
* Lest knowing all my courage fail; 
Blindfold me, so I may not see 
The dreaded hand of Destiny. 



23 



FANTASIES 



FUTILITY 

TASTING Love? Could such joy be, 

Earth were a heaven for you and me. 
Alas, time changes everything, 
Even to love doth variance bring; 
How many know, but to their sorrow, 
Love of to-day is Hate to-morrow. 



24 



FANTASIES 



ON A BIRTHDAY 

OECORDER stern— inevitable as fate, 

^ In earlier years a welcome guest, 
Could I but make your coming late 

Then were it easy to assuage unrest. 

But thou — reminder of the passing years — 
Stands like a death's-head at the feast, 

And, marking time, dost fill mine eyes with tears, 
Since none can check thee, neither great nor least. 

Therefore regret fills up the quickening days 

Which follow thee in rapid flight, 
And memory saddens as in misty haze 

My tear-dimmed vision sees the coming night. 



25 



1 



FANTASIES 



A DREAM SHIP 

\A Y ship went sailing far over the sea — 

Still was the sea and dark and deep — 

Its sails were black as the world to me; 
So tired my heart I could not sleep, 
As silent my ship sailed over the deep. 

Red hung the moon in dark blue sky, 
Touching the waves with an evil gleam; 

Sea-gulls shrieked with eerie cry, 
Came a vision I seemed to dream 

While black my ship went sailing by. 

I dreamt of waves all tipped with gold, 
Of moonlight so fair to see, 

Of music and song and joys untold; 
And then I dreamt of thee 
In my fairy ship on an opal sea. 

26 



FANTASIES 

Alone thou and I in that wondrous night, 
Sailing we knew not where, 

With care-free hearts and spirits light 
As floating clouds in distant air — 
Just thou and I on my ship so rare. 

I waked to find 'twas a dream for me — 
My precious ship with its freight had flown; 

Like an empty boat on a desolate sea 
I was floating and drifting, but drifting alone, 

And there was no ship in the world for me. 



27 



FANTASIES 



FAITH 

' I *0 live to love, then Death and Grief- 

This is not all, 'tis past belief; 
Love is eternal, not fleeting breath, 
Greater than Life, stronger than Death. 



23 



FANTASIES 



THE EAST 

Q UNLIT skies — moonlit seas, 
< -^ Whispering winds, palmetto trees, 
Natives playing, pleasure seeking, 
Over all a languor creeping; 
Languor touching man and beast, 
Lotus living — that's the East. 

Half-veiled beauties, glance appealing 
Through filmy gauze, just revealing 
Darkened eyes and dusky hair, 
Subtle perfume in the air, 
As they pass one look at least 
Thrills you, fills you — that's the East. 

Camels travel, foot-sore, weary, 
Over desert silent, dreary, 
While the sun's last radiant beams 
Colors cast worth artist's dreams; 
Colors like Belshazzer's feast 
Glorious, mystic — that's the East. 

29 



FANTASIES 

Flowers blooming, bul-buls singing, 
Temple bells afar heard ringing, 
Sounds and silence, women, song, 
Colors, camels, all the throng, 
Perhaps the best, perchance the least, 
Call you, draw you — that's the East. 



30 



FANTASIES 



VALENTINE 

AS the sheen on the humming-bird's breast, 
"^ Like the glow of the pearl's rarest hue, 
The last glint of the sun in the west 

Ere its splendors are lost from one's view, 
So subtle and lovely thou art, 

So pure, fair and sweet thou dost seem 
I think thou art half of my heart, 

To waken and find 'twas a dream. 



3i 



FANTASIES 



SEHNSUCHT 

'"pHISTLES and heather are blooming and blowing 

Purple and white far over the sea; 
Broom golden-hued in wild luxury growing, 

Dreaming, I picture them calling to me. 
In the heart of the Highland's crystalline clear 

Nestles a lake, like a jewel, glinting green; 
Out from the wildwood a bird's note I hear, 

Deep in cool water clouds reflected are seen. 

Oh, sweet land of heather and sunlight and flowers, 
Of mountains and lakes far distant from me, 

In fancy alone I live over the hours 
I once lived and loved, my dear one, with thee. 



32 



FANTASIES 



THE LILY AND THE GNAT 

CLOATING so airily, daintily fair, 
* White in her purity, lovely, complete, 
Sending faint fragrance far on the air, 
Blossomed a lily in solitude sweet. 

Loved by the night-wind, kissed by the dew, 
Cooled in deep waters, warmed by the day, 

Proudly she floated, and no one knew 
How sorrow was eating her heart away. 

For a little gnat, with a tiny sting, 
Pricked each day this heart of gold, 

And while a gnat is the smallest thing, 
Love died at last — the story's old. 



33 



FANTASIES 



THE PINE TREE 

(Translation from Heine) 

A LONELY pine tree sleeping stands 
**■ In the north on a barren height, 
Enveloped now in ice and snow 
'Tis covered soft and white. 

It dreameth of a palm tree 

That afar in Eastern land 
Is lonely, and silently mourneth 

Upon the burning sand. 



34 



FANTASIES 



THE FOG 

\\7HEN the fog lifts 
* ^ Through filmy drifts 

Comes shining the sun, 
Yet who can say, 
During its stay, 

What harm was done. 

Thy friend most dear, 

Passing so near, 
Just within call, 

Failing to understand, 

Sees not the outstretched hand- 
Fog covers all. 

When the fog lifts 
See through its rifts 

How fair the day; 
Yet the mistake 
Left in its wake 

May last alway. 

35 



FANTASIES 



A SOUL'S CRY 

/~\ VER the bridge of destiny, 

^-^ Out through the portal of sighs, 

Far on the road of yesterday 

Restless my soul's spirit flies; 
Searching so vainly rest's way 

In trying to out-run sorrow, 
Fleeing from grief of to-day 

Into a sadder to-morrow. 

So crushed and broken and sad, 

Heart-weary soul tired to death; 
Burdened, grief-strickened, half mad, 

Parting, my spirit needs breath. 
God ! if there be One on high, 

Oh, send to me surcease of grief, 
Else let my sad soul die 

And give to my heart relief. 



36 



FANTASIES 



WALTZ SONG 

IIFE, 'tis a dream! 

^ We drift with the stream, 

With the gay, debonair bright throng, 
Enjoying Life's pleasure, 
And treading gay measure 

To music and laughter and song. 

So we are gay, drive care away, 

Look forward with joy to the morrow, 
With hearts loving and bright, 
Filled with sunshine and light, 
Thus bidding good-bye to all sorrow. 

So all's a dream — 

We drift with the stream, 

With the gay, debonair bright throng, 
Enjoying full measure 
Of love, life and pleasure, 

To music and laughter and song. 



37 



FANTASIES 



LILY-OF-THE-VALLEY 

f~\ H flower fair, 

^■^ Thy perfume rare 
Doth fill my soul with pain. 

Thy whiteness pure 

Hath strange allure 
To take me back again. 

As years have flown, 

So thou hast grown 
In tendrils round my heart, 

And memory strays 

To other days 
In which thou hadst thy part. 

When day is done 

I think of one 
Who had thy charm and grace, 

Thy fragrance seems 

To bring in dreams 
My lady's lovely face. 

38 



FANTASIES 

Oh, mystic flower, 

Thy subtle power 
Weaves visions fair to see, 

As with a thrill 

Thy perfume still 
Brings back the past to me. 



39 



FANTASIES 



TO LET 

\ A 7ALK not too far on friendship's path, 

'Tis soft with leaves and roses, 
And there a cool, remote retreat 

To tired eyes discloses, 
A place so sweet it calls for rest 

And peace and calm serene; 
But if you look there is a sign 

Which reads, "It might have been." 

There flowers fair upon the way 

Seem yours for just the taking, 
Forget-me-nots and lilies, too, 

Like incense fragrance making. 
And brilliant birds whose liquid notes 

With music soft will charm, 
But venture not to go too near, 

They flee in wild alarm. 

40 



FANTASIES 

Deep in this wood a house one sees, 

Thatched o'er with vines and flowers, 
Its roof seems made of happy thoughts, 

I ts walls of joyous hours. 
But open not the closed door, 

Nor seek here sweet seclusion; 
Sad, empty, is the house, alas — 

Its name is Lost Illusion. 

So best to tread the broad highway 
Alone, and then forget. 

At friendship's door pause not nor stay- 
Pass on, and mark "To Let." 



4i 



FANTASIES 



ADVICE 

OEST "smile and forget 

Than sigh and remember"; 
June roses may yet 

Follow snow of December. 



Life's only a game, 

Love's seldom the winner; 
Fate destines the same 

For Saint as for Sinner. 

So try hard to smile — 

Leave sighs and regretting; 

To make life worth while 
Try the art of forgetting. 



42 



FANTASIES 



NEW YEAR'S GREETING 

AT midnight, o'er the city pealing, 
'**' Clanging, ringing, hear the bells. 
Everywhere bright lights revealing 

Sights and sounds of joy that tells 
Of the New Year, bringing gladness; 

Ringing, singing notes proclaim. 
'Tis the hour to banish sadness 

And to join the glad refrain. 
Sing and dance in lightest measure: 

Listen! hear the bells' sweet call; 
Life's a-tune to love and pleasure — 

Happy New Year — one and all. 



43 



FANTASIES 



DRIFTING 

pvREAD not the future days, 
*"^ Fate has strange mystic ways. 

Just idly drift — 
From out life's storm and stress 
May yet come happiness 

When shadows lift. 

Oft in far distant land 
Swift swirls the desert sand, 

While the wild wind 
Destroys in wanton play 
All that lies in its way, 

Wreckage we find. 

Yet when the storm blows by 
Bluer shines summer sky, 

Seen through a rift. 
Cling not to comrade sorrow, 
Hope for a bright to-morrow: 

Just wait — and drift. 

44 



FANTASIES 



PHILOSOPHY, from thy boasted store, 

Oh! give me just one little grain, 
So memory of the days no more 

Shall comfort bring, supplanting pain 
Which walks with me by night and day, 

A silent shadow, grim and dread; 
And as it walks it seems to say: 

Hope not for joy — thy heart is dead. 

Alas, poor heart, which cold doth die, 
A frozen grief within my breast; 

Is there no charm, no way that I 
May warm thee, gaining peace and rest? 



45 



FANTASIES 



RED LETTER DAYS 

A DAY there was, in times gone by, 
^* We passed together, you and I; 
Sweet, perfect hours, ere the sun 
Marked how our day was nearly done. 
With rarest color glowed the sky, 
While hand in hand we watched it die. 
Each held a thought too deep to say — 
Do you recall that perfect day? 

A memory dear, though filled with pain, 
Red-letter days come not again. 



46 



FANTASIES 



GOLDEN DAYS 

' XT EATH soft gray clouds the moon lies sleeping, 

^ No further need of vigil keeping, 
While drowsy birds sweet music make, 
Singing, "Tis dawn — awake! awake!" 
The glorious sun in gold array, 
Bright herald of a perfect day, 
Comes shining o'er a sapphine sea 
To bring a day of gold to me. 
These wondrous hours, in days of old 
I spent with thee, I counted gold. 



47 



FANTASIES 



BLUE DAYS 

"HpIS thus in life who does not know 

Dark, weary days of sleet and snow; 
Whose hours, so drear and dull and dead, 
Drag endless on with feet of lead. 
We long for one now far away — 
Blue is the word for such a day. 

Yet when the days are very blue 

I warm my heart with thought of you. 



48 



FANTASIES 



SPRING SONG 

TATE snow falling, 
■ Swirling drifts, 
Spring is calling, 

Crocus lifts, 
Golden heads nod, 

Pushing through 
From the soft sod 

Into view, 
Nodding, swaying, 

As if saying: 
Here we come with spring for you- 

With spring for you. 



49 



FANTASIES 



A TOI 

\ A 7 HEN first I wake, my thoughts of thee 
" Blend like a chord of sweetest harmony. 

I seem to feel thy spirit, dear; 
A lovely dream brought thee so near. 
Day dawns worth while, just for thy sake, 

When first I wake. 
All through the day, my thought of thee 
Brings courage, hope, and strength to me; 
I feel encompassed by thy love 
As something holy from above, 
Which lightens sorrow on my way, 

All through the day. ' 

When sleep draws nigh, then, spirit free, 
I love and live my life with thee; 
Faithful and true, the highest, best, 
My heart and thine together rest. 
Alas! sad fate for you and I, 
Tis but a dream 
When sleep draws nigh. 

50 



FANTASIES 



FRIENDSHIP 

/^OUNT that friend loyal, true, 
^ Whose trust remains in you 

When other's fail. 
Faithful in storm and stress, • 
Not one to love you less 

Should doubts assail. 



Hast one of whom you're sure 
Constant he will endure 

Always your friend? 
Lock him within your heart, 
Hold him as one apart, 

Until the end. 

Long days may intervene, 
Great distance stand between 

You and this friend. 
As naught is time and space, 
Near as if face to face, 

The thoughts you send. 

5i 



FANTASIES 

But this can only be 
Where there is sympathy 

Perfect and pure. 
Then thoughts — dear, strong, unbroken- 
Will carry words unspoken; 

Of this, be sure. 



52 



FANTASIES 



MYSTERY 

'""pWO mummies strange from times gone by 

A In mystery unfathomed rest 
Within cathedral nave — up high, 
And one a dagger bears in breast. 

A youth is one, whose clustering hair 

Still traces show of dusky gold, 
And o'er the fleshless visage there 

A semblance yet of beauty's told. 

His gloved and bony fingers hold 
A silver scabbard sword so tight; 

Upon his baldrick's broidered gold 
An empty dagger sheath shines bright. 

He seems to gaze across the nave 

Upon a woman dead, yet fair, 
Whose beauty time has sought to save, 

In gorgeous raiment, pearls in hair. 

53 



FANTASIES 

Rich garments fashioned ages past 

Within the crystal coffin seen, 
Through silken bodice dagger fast, 

Its golden hilt where heart has been. 

Is there no clue, no ancient rhyme, 
To solve this secret centuries old? 

Had love grown jealous, causing crime, 
Or was the lover over-bold? 

In vain to search, in vain to ask, 
The reason no one seems to know; 

'Tis buried, and a useless task. 
God rest these souls of long ago! 

(These mummies are to-day in the nave of the 
Cathedral at Syracuse, Sicily, and no one appears to 
know their history.) 



54 



FANTASIES 



SONG 

T FOLD away my memories on days when skies are 
* blue 

With rosemary and pansies, and little bits of rue; 
My memories so tender of love that's ever true, 
And always a thought of you, Dear, 
Ever a thought of you. 

The memories are mine, Dear, so long as life may last, 
For neither space nor time, Dear, can alter what is past; 
So, tenderly I treasure them, my pansies and my rue, 
With always a thought of you, Dear, 
Ever a thought of you. 



55 



FANTASIES 



THE SEVENTH WAVE 

DESTLESS, alone on the sands of the sea, 
1 ^ Watching the waves as they ripple to me; 
Each foam-crested one seems a message from thee, 
As I dream and I wait on the sands by the sea. 



The message is subtle and light as the mist 
Which follows the wake of the waves, sun-kissed; 
It sings in the breeze, it floats on the air, 
And to those who can hear, is heard everywhere. 

'Tis not in the telling anything new — 
The waves may at any time bring it to you; 
You must know how to listen, else you will miss 
The wave and its message, sent with a kiss. 



56 



FANTASIES 



LIFE 

CAR in the veldt a flower grew, 

Kissed only by the wind and dew; 
It blossomed and to crimson turned, and burned 
Upon that lone and sandy way, 

Until one day 
There came a wanderer, in idle quest, 
Picked the sweet flower to let it rest 
Upon his heart for one brief hour — 

Exalted flower! 
Then passed along, nor even sighed. 

The flower? Died ! 



57 



FANTASIES 



A CARAVAN 

A CARAVAN winds wearily o'er the shifting sand, 
**■ Across an arid plain of desert waste, 
Where deathless silence reigned supreme 
And all is hopeless heat from burning sun — 
A caravan winds wearily o'er the drifting sands! 

Then suddenly! Palm trees, tall and cool and green, 

Sway softly 'gainst the fair blue sky, 

And rippling waters mingle with the song of birds, 

While mossy banks invite to rest — 

A caravan winds wearily o'er the burning sand. 

Toward where, so near, the pictured heaven lies, 
With promise fair of rest for man and beast. 
Night falls! and still in eager quest, now East now West, 
A caravan winds wearily o'er the shifting sand. 



FANTASIES 



MY GHOST BABY 

/^\ LITTLE Ghost Baby of long ago, 
^-^ Come to my empty arms; 
I'll sing you a song so soft and low, 
I will rock you and kiss you and love you so, 
And shield you from all that harms. 

Dear little Ghost Baby, with eyes so blue, 

Like corn-flowers lit by the sun, 
And lips like roses all touches with dew, 
My heart just yearns and longs for you 
At the hour when the day is done. 

Little Ghost Baby, with hair of gold, 

And skin like the petal of rose, 
What dear little secrets to you I have told — 
My own little one who never grows old, 

In the land that no one knows. 



59 



FANTASIES 

In the far-away land you wait for me, 

My own little Ghost of the past; 
Your smile and your laugh I hear and see, 
And you are as real as real can be — 
O, could I once hold you fast. 

But dreams are fleeting and Ghosts are, too, 

And I must dream on through the days; 
Still, I sometimes listen and look for you, 
Though you are a Ghost and really not true, 
I shall love you and long always. 



60 



FANTASIES 



MADRIGAL 

T I ER eyes are soft and blue, 

With a bit of sky thrown in; 
Her hair glows golden hue — 

The sun and it are kin. 
Her voice? Words fail me here: 

Tis soft and sweet and low, 
And she whispers words so dear 

They set my pulse aglow. 
If I tell you that I love her 

These lines you will understand : 
That my heart I can never recover, 

For she crushes it in her hand. 



61 



FANTASIES 



FROM AN OLD GARDEN 

IN a far, quiet corner of this wonderful world once 
lived a princess. 

Extraordinary beauty was hers, exceeding that of 
most fair women; beauty and charm, winsome was 
she, with a witchery all her own, and her heart was of 
gold — pure, tender, sensitive, loyal and true — made 
for great love, but, alas! easily broken should love 
take wing. 

Gifted was she with a rare mind, quick to receive, 
retentive to hold. Her favorite pastime was sailing a 
white-winged boat — her own — in which she and her 
lover passed many rapturous hours of the beautiful 
Italian nights, sailing in the wake of the moon under 
the silent stars, forgetting all save love. But her 
greatest pride and delight was a unique and marvellous 
garden, made after her own fanciful design, surrounded 
with a wall of flowering green, fashioned so high, mak- 
ing entrance impossible except at a secret spot known 
only to her most intimate and dearest, for reserved 
and exclusive was this lovely Princess of long ago. 

62 



FANTASIES 

Back of the wall of green grew great trees, whose deli- 
cate branches were trained to overhang the tall, 
flowery hedge, and on still moonlight nights, swayed 
by the soft night wind, their interlacings made sweet 
whisperings and cast mystic shadows on the paths 
below — for this was a sunken garden and circular in 
form. 

On one side an exquisite statue of Cupid and Psyche 
rested in a bower of roses, and when touched by the 
lingering afterglow of sunset seemed almost to breathe 
with life and love. 

Opposite was a dance of nymphs, also marble, life 
size, and the privileged few who entered this en- 
chanted spot always recalled how bewitchingly human 
the dainty figures seemed, as if they, too, were really 
dancing in this garden of enchantment. 

In the centre, a fountain sparkled and sang through 
the long golden hours to the fair, white water lilies, as 
they unfolded their pale beauty, while in and out 
darted and splashed fish, silver and gold, and rainbow- 
hued, in fleeting flashes of brilliant color, 'neath the 
pads of the protecting lilies. 

Flowers, rarely beautiful, blossomed and bloomed 
in tropical luxuriance in this garden of delight. Tall, 
swaying lilies intoxicated the senses with heavy, subtle 

63 



FANTASIES 

fragrance. Fairest roses, ethereal white in their loveli- 
ness, suggested altars and holy thoughts; others 
faintly pink-tinted, blushing as tho' kissed by the 
early dawn, and again others, gorgeous with deep, 
rich crimson petals, glowing as heart's desire. All the 
paths in this dearest of gardens were bordered with 
lillies-of-the-valley, and each day the Princess gathered 
a few and wore them over her heart, for they were her 
favorites. 

Light was the heart of the Princess, pure as the lily 
her thoughts, and sweet as the thrush her voice — 
magnetic, soft and low. 

Music she loved, and many quaint and dainty songs 
composed, singing them to her lover's accompaniment, 
for his was a pretty skill upon the guitar and violin. 

He was a fitting mate for the fair Princess in all 
ways save one — constancy. 

Many moons had passed, and happiness eternal 
seemed just within reach, when his mind became 
obsessed with a vague unrest. Vainly he tried to 
conquer this feeling gradually absorbing him, that to 
live forever, even with his beautiful Princess, was to 
be tied, held in chains and fettered; so finally, with 
sad, heavy, reluctant heart, he realized he must sun- 
der his bonds with a conclusive parting. 

64 



FANTASIES 

Briefly then, after a last glorious, exquisite hour of 
love, such as few ever realize, he told the sweet Princess 
and shattered this fair dream which had lasted for two 
short, beautiful, ecstatic summers. 

What the Princess said I know not. The beautiful 
garden is a wild wilderness of tangled weeds; gone are 
the birds and flowers and fountain — broken the rare 
old statues. The Princess still lives in sad seclusion, 
behind convent walls, and the man? 

He is doomed to remember 



65 



Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process. 
Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide 
Treatment Date: Sept. 2009 

PreservationTechnologies 

A WORLD LEADER IN COLLECTIONS PRESERVATION 

111 Thomson Park Drive 
Cranberry Township, PA 16066 
(724) 779-2111 



